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Happiness Measures

Characteristics

Code:
A-Sum-g-mq-*-111-a
Focus:
Affect: Summed appraisals (A-Sum)
Time frame:
generally (g)
Mode:
multiple questions (mq)
Scale Type:
Different rating scales combined (*)
Scale Range:
111

Description

Self report on two questions:

A
Use the list below to answer the following question: IN GENERAL, HOW HAPPY OR UNHAPPY DO YOU USUALLY FEEL? Check the one statement that best describes your average happiness.
10  extremely happy (feeling ecstatic, joyous, fantastic!)
9    very happy (feeling really good and elated!)
8    pretty happy (spirits high, feeling good)
7    mildly happy (feeling fairly good and somewhat cheerful)
6    slightly happy ( just a bit above neutral)
5    slightly unhappy (just a bit below neutral)
4    mildly unhappy (just a bit low)
3    pretty unhappy (somewhat "blue", spirits down)
2    very unhappy ( depressed, spirits very low)
1    extremely unhappy (utterly depressed, completely down)

B)
Consider your emotions a moment further. On the average, what percentage of the time do you feel Happy? What percent of the time do you feel unhappy? What percent of the time do you feel neutral (neither happy nor unhappy)? Write down your best estimate, as well as you can, in the space below. Make sure the figures add-up to equal 100%
The percent of time I felt happy       _____%
The percent of time I felt unhappy   _____%
The percent of time I felt neutral      _____%

Summation: A + % happy on B

Name: Fordyce's 'Happiness measure'

List of Studies Using this Measure

Study Population N Mean
Standard Deviation
Smith et al. (1999): study US 1997 Undergraduate students, USA, 1999 N = 130
Kaliterna Lipovcan et al. (2004): study HR 2004 Professionals in social care settings, Croatia, 2004 N = 1728
Mean
= 6.830
SD
= 1.390
Fordyce (1977): study US 1972 Student participants in a happiness training, USA 197? N = 202
Fordyce (1983): study US 1980 /1 Student participants in a happiness training, USA 198? N = 98
Fordyce (1983): study US 1980 Student participants in a happiness training, USA 198? N = 71
Fordyce (1983): study US 1980 /2 Student participants in a happiness training, USA 198? N = 57
Fordyce (1983): study US 1980 /3 Student, participants in a happiness training 9-18 months ago, USA 198? N = 69
Colombo et al. (2006): study IT Piemonte 2001 High school students; Italy; 200? N = 384